Even (especially?) from an altitude of 35,000, it is literally breathtaking: I found myself repeatedly forgetting to breathe as I stared out the airplane window. The bottom photo looks like something I last saw in biology class under a microscope, or maybe a spread of the most beautiful gems ever found. Thank you, iPhone.
and 
. You can also watch it on 
There’s almost no night this time of year.
@4
Back in April we were around the 79-2000 year average. Now we’re well below it.
http://nsidc.org/arcticseaicenews/
Where are you getting data for the 30 year average?
There’s getting to be more and more darkness by this time of year actually. The solstice is in mid June. Every day since then adds a slightly longer nighttime until the equinox in September. So probably a few hours by now.
I’ve been to Fairbanks (not quite in the arctic circle but far enough to get 22-23 hours of sun) at the summer solstice. It’s kind of eerie going for a walk at 1 am in daylight with desolated streets. But also quite fascinating.